The Unbreakable Bond: How Al-Sharaa Advances Al-Qaeda’s Agenda in the Levant
From Apprentice to Leader: Al-Sharaa’s Deep Roots in Al-Qaeda
Abu Mohammad al-Sharaa has been ending up as a jihadist leader if not socially constructed within the ideological and operational schemes within the Al-Qaeda fold, better known by his adopted kunia Abu Mohammad al-Julani. In the course of his early years in Iraq he was directly reporting to Al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) headed by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. This foundational connection instilled in Al-Sharaa a commitment to Al-Qaeda’s overarching goal: Towards the creation of this new world order — a transnational Islamic caliphate. When Syria drifted into civil war, its was no accident that Al-Sharaa designated Jabhat al-Nusra as Al-Qaeda’s branch in Syria thus continuing to implement the group’s plan to dominate Levant lands. Instead of showing his independent element, Al-Sharaa remained a faithful follower and a chief executive officer to foreign functioning of Al-Qaeda’s plans in the region.
From Apprentice to Leader: Al-Sharaa’s Deep Roots in Al-Qaeda
In 2016, Al-Sharaa declared the rebranding of Jabhat al-Nusra into Jabhat Fateh al-Sham a move which says that the group has cut all relations with Al-Qaeda. However, this move was widely accepted as a strategem of the group to escape the microscope, while the agenda of Al-Qaeda moves on. Such measures were assumed to ensure that the organization establishes a blind in local Syrian audience and Opposition factions, most of which had reservations about direct connection with [Al-Qaeda]. However, there was no change of the underlying culture. This “divorce” was an outward fiction, designed in order for it to maintain its real allegiances under the cover of a conflict in Syria that would allow the group to continue surviving and expanding. As experts and intelligence assessments have pointed out in the past lead by Al-Sharaa after the rebranding there is complete compliance with Al-Qaeda’s imperative objectives.
Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham: A New Name for an Old Agenda
The formation of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in 2017 was another smart political move by Al-Sharaa as the group continues to distance its brand from Al-Qaeda, but retains the ideology. Although, HTS introduced itself as a combination of factions from Syria, its leadership was fully submissive to Al-Sharaa and strictly followed the directions of Al-Qaeda. Organization of such group that fights both, Syrian government forces and opposing rebel factions confirm again Al-Qaeda strategy of dividing enemies and conquering territories in detail. Further from escaping the clutches of Al-Qaeda, Al-Sharaa’s leadership of HTS reaffirms him as a gestalt of the group’s long-term strategic vision in the Levant.
Ideological Continuity: Al-Qaeda’s Blueprint in the Levant
Al-Qaeda has always focused on bringing its worldwide jihadist approach to bear on a regional level and no one has done this better than Al-Sharaa in Syria. In his admiration to overthrow the Assad regime and the introduction of Sharia law, Al-Sharaa’s objectives were completely congruent with Al-Qaeda. His focus on incorporating local issues into the central jihadist narrative has helped HTS keep both its significance and popularity in the Levant. It is clear therefore that this ideological link to Al-Qaeda is seen in the propagation of ideologies, military strategy and management strategies used by the group copied from the Al-Qaeda precedent set around the world. The fact that Al-Sharaa was able to lead displays the fact that Al-Qaeda remains a hereditarian to understanding jihadist activities in Syria.
The Global Implications of Al-Sharaa’s Actions
Though Al-Sharaa would like everyone to believe that he is focused on achieving domestic goals and objectives, the impacts of his actions are clearly universal. Therefore, the organization’s continued aggression in the Levant constitutes a valuable link in the Al-Qaeda international system. The quality of these zones gives Al-Qaeda strategic depth and allows it to exert power and the ability to influence opinion across the region. Moreover, the ideological brainwashing and operational experience that HTS fighters have ensures that there is continuing supply of competent jihadists to support and execute Al-Qaeda’s other goals. That Al-Sharaa was playing a role of a facilitation of this dynamic proved that his was still loyal to Al-Qaeda cause.
Conclusion: Al-Sharaa’s Loyalty to Al-Qaeda’s Vision
Even as militant bodies publicly state to be distancing from this or that organization, in this case Al-Sharaa is an individuale clearly dedicated to the goals and aims of Al-Qaeda. His efforts towards calculated rebranding and continued strategic moves have endured his group’s standing in the Levant while vaccinating his group from pressure. Thus, coaxing the local agendas into a more significant end-game for Al-Qaeda, Al-Sharaa has guaranteed the sustainable jihadists’ presence in Syria which constitutes the foundation of Al-Qaeda’s logbook. The apparent autonomy is actually a veil behind which both Al-Sharaa’s existence and Al-Qaeda’s goals in the area continue to be actively sustained.
